Event Coverage Lucky B@stards Hot Rod Run - USAAF air bases in UK

Terrific post, enjoyed every bit of it. What a great weekend for you guys.

 

Thank you JAPCHRIS, this is without a doubt the best post I have ever read on the HAMB. You guys have some mighty fine hotrods too.
Jim

 

Very cool!

 

Absolutely one of the best ever on the HAMB, Thank you!!!

 

Thank you.

 

Thanks for sharing.

 

Just Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

 

What a great post , thanks for putting it up
Certainly it’s a good thing to reflect on the sacrifices made for our freedoms .
My dad was a kid in Yorkshire during the war, he would talk of the sounds of the aircraft coming and going, they were seared in his mind
Those leather flying jackets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

What a cracking day out. Thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for a great post with the awesome history and bitchin’ cars.
I was fortunate to spend a day at the Air War Museum at RAF Duxford, and hope to go back.
Your bases are more to see if we can make the trip.
Thanks!

 

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. What a great tour you folks undertook. My Uncle was a radio gunner on a B-17 called Milk Run Special flying from Thurleigh. I have his A2 leather jacket. Thanks to those over there keeping the history of all the brave Allied fliers during WWII alive.

 

Excellent read that’s more than interesting. Thank you for sharing.

 

Thank you very much. Great history.

 

That was awesome! Thanks for the pics & history lesson!

 

@japchris Thank you for taking the time to write (and research) this excellent thread! It is a very fitting homage to those who gave so much!

 

Bloody brilliant, cheers mate

 

Thanks for all the comments. - Glad you enjoyed it.
Going round these museums emphasized the relationship between these guy’s war years, and how hot-rodding took off post-war. The two are definitely linked.
Quite apart from the fact that folk can get addicted to adrenalin, (so coming back after the war to a mundane job would have sparked the need for some excitement, such as going racing), men could have gained confidence in their own technical skills developed in service, whether it be in mechanics, sheet metal work, what-ever.



I believe the car below was put together by ground crew of the 490th Bomb Group, (using bomb trolley wheels?), at Eye, another airfield a short distance from where we were at the weekend.


The cutting edge innovations men were exposed to, must have also had an influence.





And other stuff, like realising that if a bit of wing was hanging off, it would cause drag, and therefore lower the speed. Streamlining makes you go faster!



And stopping was just as important. They were a number of times shot up bombers came in with hydraulics gone, so parachutes were deployed out of the waist gun positions to try and stop the thing running off the end of the runway. This one, though looks in OK condition in the photo, the crew later counted some 180-190 holes in it caused through Flak. The hydraulics had been severed in four places.



We know where the parachute idea ended up.



Then there was the exotic fuels that produced a bigger bang.
Jets and JATO units found their way into automotive use.



And of course the recent memories of the camaraderie of a bunch of guys together working towards a common goal, could also have been a factor post-war in the attraction of hotrodding. (Notice the flying jacket attire.)



We really owe a lot to this generation in all manner of ways.

 

I also think a lot of them came back with a "Life's too short NOT to do the things I want to try" attitude.

 

Wow, thanks for sharing!!! I need to come back later and Re-read this post, this deserves to be read more than once !

 

Just WoW

 

Incredible post - one of the best on the HAMB.

Incorporating 3 of my favorite things - hot rods, WWII warbirds and vintage airstrips.

Outstanding !

 

Very well done! What a way to spend a weekend! Having spent a few years around that type of aircraft I really appreciate what you folks are doing...

 

Thanks for posting this. Fun to read and really sobering what those boys went through!